Though Dominican authorities have not publicly named Riibe a person of interest, law enforcement has questioned him, under the belief that he is the last person to have seen Konanki alive. As of Thursday, March 13, he remained in the country.

Joshua Steven Riibe, 24, has been identified as the man seen hugging and walking hand-in-hand with the 20-year-old student just hours before she vanished in the Dominican Republic.

Joshua Riibe, a 24-year-old tourist from Iowa, has come under the spotlight, with investigators naming him a 'person of interest.'

Iowan Joshua Steven Riibe told prosecutors he and Sudiksha Konanki were hit by an intense wave and were swept out to sea.

Iowan Joshua Riibe recounted to police the last moments with Sudiksha Konanki, 20, who was last seen in the Dominican Republic on March 6.

Authorities are still searching for 20-year-old college student, Sudiksha Konanki, who went missing in the Dominican Republic last week. TMZ reports that the person of interest in her disappearance, 22-year-old Joshua Riibe has since claimed that he saved her from drowning.

The person of interest in the disappearance of University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki claims he saved her from drowning, as police continue to search for clues a week after she vanished during her spring break trip to the Dominican Republic.